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National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure

Energy National Policy Statements provide planning guidance for developers of nationally significant energy infrastructure projects.

From:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Published
22 November 2023
Last updated
6 January 2026 — See all updates

The energy National Policy Statements cover:

  • the overarching needs case for different types of energy infrastructure
  • natural gas electricity generation
  • renewable electricity generation
  • gas and oil infrastructure
  • electricity networks
  • nuclear energy

The guidance makes it easier for decision makers, applicants and the wider public to understand:

  • government policy on the need for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs)
  • how applications for energy infrastructure will be assessed
  • the way in which impacts and mitigations will be judged

National Policy Statements

The 2025 versions of National Policy Statements 1, 3 and 5 came into force on 6 January 2026.

The National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) came into force on 18 December 2025.

The 2023 revised NPSs (EN-2 and EN-4) came into force on 17 January 2024. 

6 January 2026

In 2025 we consulted on draft updates to to EN-1, EN-3 and EN-5, and separately on the new NPS, EN-7 - see the Consultations section below.

In November 2025 we published the government response to both consultations, and draft versions of the NPSs.

All updated NPSs are now in force.

Nuclear energy

EN-6 and EN-7 both apply to applications for development consent relating to nuclear energy:

  • EN-6 applies to relevant to nuclear power stations deployable by 2025
  • EN-7 will apply indefinitely to all nationally significant infrastructure projects using nuclear fission to generate energy

Assessments

Consultations

Updates to this page

Published 22 November 2023
Last updated 6 January 2026 show all updates

  1. Added 2025 versions of EN-1, EN-3 and EN-5.

  2. National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7) has come into force.

  3. Government responses to 2 consultations (EN-1, 3 and 5, and new EN-7) published. Added link to National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7).

  4. Added link to new consultation on amendments to 3 energy NPSs.

  5. Added link to latest consultation on the Draft National Policy Statement for nuclear energy generation (EN-7).

  6. The 2023 revised NPSs (EN-1 to EN-5) came into force on 17 January 2024.

  7. First published.

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